The UK National Health System was all that could be wished for during my recovery.

30/1/2016-15/2/2016 Chislehurst, LondonMarco and Manolas houseMarco picked me up from the plane at Gatwick and literally took me straight to the hospital.Here they told us to go to outpatients at the Princess Royal University hospital.Here in the waiting room, a nurse first saw me, then miraculously I was given a CT scan, all in the space of a few hours.The scan revealed a 5mm stone near the bladder and another one still in the kidney of lesser dimensions.They then admitted me to a ward. The pain was still coming in waves of agony.They were hoping for me to pass it. Two days were spent in the warm confines of the ward. My time here was spent with a London cabbie and a pub owner. Consequently the time here was very amusing between the pain.The English accents heard were so similar to those in sitcoms like Coronation St and others. It was also a great insight into the lifes of normal people here.Especially when their wives came to visit.On the Monday morning the duty doctor decided that the stone was not going to be passed.That afternoon I underwent surgery .I was so pleased that something was being done.As usual upon awakening as if nothing had happened. I was told there was a stent in my penis, a rubber tube for lack of a better description. They had got the big stone but not the smaller one .This needed to be fragmented at some stage.I was discharged that afternoon, still in some pain.Back at Marcos ,it was great to meet his wife Manola and their three children, Rosa, Vincanso and Teresa.Marco and Manola were both great cooks . The food we enjoyed each evening was as good as any food from an Italian restaurant.I bought a bottle of wine each evening to go with the delightful meals. Their home town is on the coast south east of Florence.One evening Marco gave me instructions on the preparation of a Tiramisu. A classic Italian dessert.Most of my time in London was spent resting and travelling to hospitals and clinics. I had to be re admitted to PRU on the Saturday after the op due to more pain.The duty doctor was overheard complaining about me using their National Health System.(NHS) It was almost a personal tirade.I thought to myself how would he feel if he was in Australia or NZ and overheard this kind of conversation.Our countries have a reciprocal agreement on health sevices.Later staff told me how people from Europe come here and abuse the system. They arrive with serious health issues like cancer and get in the system and milk it with very expensive procedures .Following the removal of the stent the pain was still cyclic. My reliance on Panadol had not eased.Finally I got an appointment to see a specialist at Kings College Hospital.The doctor there was such a great guy. He came in especially to see me.We studied the old scan together and saw the remaining stone.Prior to this, one morning I woke up and felt surprisingly good. I had my old spark back. Maybe the stone had passed.Doctor Kahn arranged another CT scan for me. All within one hour.Two days later he phoned and said the stone in the kidney was no longer there.I was elated, I had a smile on my face I could not get rid of. I was one of the happiest guys in London.The next day a visit was made to see the doctor, we studied the new scan. There were no signs of any stones.His parting words to me were “try to drink three litres of water a day”.I couldn’t thank him enough. He had saved me staying here for another two weeks.My sincere thanks goes to all the nurses and doctors that cared for me here in London. The NHS system here for me was absolutely brilliant . My special thanks goes to The female surgeon at PRU and Doctor Kahn at Kings college Hospital.Whilst here in London, parts for the bike were bought and lots of warm clothes.The most striking and enjoyable thing about life in London was the equal opportunity for all. People from Niccaragua were met on the train. They were from Massaya, a place I know there.A Sea to Summit sleeping bag liner was bought that is claimed to add 8 degrees warmth to my sleeping bag. Some good waterproof light hiking shoes were also bought to cycle in.Importantly a good lightweight jacket was bought to trap warmth around my body. Up until now all I have had to do this was my raincoat. Even around town it was inadequate.I will later describe my layering system before leaving Istanbul.Manola and Marco are both so busy with 3 children. I did my best to give them a break with some babysitting and always cleaning the kitchen each day. My time with them was so enjoyable, we did not do much but just enjoyed each other company and great food.Callum and I spent 3 days cycling with Marco in Argentina, we had a magical time together on the road. He was one of those people who I knew I would see again!!A Turkish Airlines flight with a late arrival at Ataturk was booked. Being school holidays the one way flight was as much as a return flight earlier.It was so nice to be on the move again and in good health.

After 50,000km and four and a half years my old brooks has run out out adjustment, with the small rivets pulling through the leather. Get a seat with these large copper rivets

We ate just the best italian food every night, thanks to Marcos great cooking skills.

Marco giving me lessons on how to make a Tiramasu

So English, Chislehurst, Kent

A lot of time was spent on these and trains visiting clinics and hospitals in east London.

A huge smile on my face knowing the last stone had passed. I had the all clear!!

heading back "home" so to speak!

My time with Marco, Teresa, Rosa, Manola and Vincenso in London made coping and recovery from the kidney stones very easy